Physics itself is a science that deals with numbers; the main areas studied within physics are motion, energy transfer, light, sound, electricity and magnetism.

Sea ice physics is the study of the physical properties of sea ice. In particular, its structure, how it moves and how it transfers energy. In order to do this, sea ice physicists use their knowledge of the properties of electromagnetic radiation (including light) to develop instruments. These instruments can probe the sea ice and ultimately help them to better understand the role sea ice plays in both a local and global setting.

Not all 'ice' is the same! The pictures on the right are both of sea ice crystals but they have completely different structures. The structure of the sea ice crystals depends mostly on the conditions they were formed under.